April 11, 2009, 7:25PM

From culture wars to the common good Judging from recent headlines, you might think conservatives have a lock on religion. Whether the topic is same-sex marriage, stem cell research or President Barack Obama's invitation to speak at Notre Dame's commencement, the same sources from the religious right get top billing. What's going on? Robert P. Jones, a professor and... Full story »

June 01, 2009, 12:11PM

SEATTLE -- A group called WhoSigned.org says it will publicize the names of people signing petitions for Referendum 71, which seeks a public vote to overturn a new expansion of Washington's same-sex partnerships. WhoSigned.org says it's partnering with the gay rights group KnowThyNeighbor.org to put the names online. Full story »

June 13, 2009, 9:34AM

The people's passions beg for judicial correction What galls me most about the California Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold Proposition 8, thereby banning same-sex marriage in California, is that the legal reasoning behind the decision was sound. The law as it is written does allow the type of change to the California state constitution enacted by Proposition 8.... Full story »

October 08, 2009, 4:00AM

Support Navy families Your editorial piece, "The war at home" [Oct. 6], was right on. As a career Navy man, I know how family separation can prey on a service man or woman. And it is especially difficult for families of National Guard soldiers whose dependents don't have the support of a unit's home base. Concern and worry over problems... Full story »

November 05, 2009, 11:31AM

They're still counting ballots for Referendum 71, but it appears that an astonishing evolution has taken place, in only 12 years In 1997, Washington voters delivered a devastating defeat to gays and lesbians. By a landslide -- 60 percent to 40 percent -- voters decided discrimination was just fine, so long as it targeted gays and lesbians. Voters rejected... Full story »

November 07, 2009, 7:05AM

Gay rights advocates should keep reminding themselves that ugly name-calling fuels a fire against their cause. No one needs that. Ensuring equal rights for same-sex couples is too important. Full story »

November 08, 2009, 8:16PM

The defeat of same-sex marriage last week in Maine was painful. But one unlikely star did emerge from the campaign there, an 86-year-old World War II veteran named Philip Spooner. The lifelong Republican spoke in a quavering voice about the need for equality. One of Spooner's sons is gay. It's unthinkable to him that the United States he sacrificed so... Full story »

November 11, 2009, 4:55PM

The Mormon church -- which continues to suffer a backlash over its support last year of Proposition 8, the measure banning same-sex marriage in California -- emphasized that its latest position in no way contradicts its teachings on homosexuality. Full story »

November 28, 2009, 4:00AM

Redefine 'rich' It is a great idea. I am all for taxing the rich. The only catch is that I want the opportunity to define who is rich. But wait, I already know the answer to that. The rich are those who have or make more than I do. RICHARD E. PAUL Northeast Portland Sun will rise... Full story »

December 07, 2009, 4:00AM

Note: Because of a series of errors, the Letters-to-the-Editor section in Monday editions of The Oregonian duplicated the section that appeared in Saturday editions. We have expanded Tuesday’s letters section to accommodate letters that should have appeared in the Monday edition of the newspaper and we apologize for the mistake. Below, you will find the series of letters that should... Full story »

February 22, 2010, 11:46PM

Those against same-sex marriage would say that having both a mother and father is crucial to a child’s development, citing the statistic that when a father is present during child-rearing there is decreased delinquency in children as well as decreased psychological and behavioral issues, and the children generally thrive more physically, mentally, and socially when raised in such as environment.... Full story »

July 17, 2010, 7:55AM

Elizabeth Hovde: How else can one describe the church's decision to endorse and bless ministers' same-sex relationships but sit on the sidelines when it comes to recognizing and blessing the same-sex relationships of parishioners? Full story »

July 26, 2010, 8:03PM

Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest gay rights group, has launched a three-week television and direct-mail campaign explaining why lesbian and gay couples want to marry with hopes of broadening support for gay marriage in Oregon. Full story »

August 04, 2010, 6:29PM

A San Francisco federal judge's ruling to strike down California's ban on same-sex marriage will not affect a similar ban in Oregon, but it does buoy the hopes of gay and lesbian couples that they someday will be able to legally marry. Full story »

August 07, 2010, 8:33AM

John Diaz: Reasonable people may disagree about Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling on California's Proposition 8. But there should be no argument about the authority and responsibility of the federal judiciary to assess the constitutionality of a law. Full story »